The Philippines and Brunei Darussalam have signed an agreement that will improve defence cooperation between the two countries, reports reaching Manila said yesterday. The landmark pact was signed by top defence officials of the two countries during a state visit by Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Brunei.
The agreement covers cooperative activities such as military education and training, exchange of information, joint combined military exercises, exchange of visits between the two countries' defence and armed forces officials, and sports-related defence cooperative activities.
According to a statement by the presidential palace in Manila, the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation was signed by Philippines Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes and Minister Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Seti Haji Mohammad Taib of Brunei Darussalam in ceremonies held at the Ministry of Defence at Garrison Bolkiah in Brunei.
The defence cooperation pact was signed on the first day of the three-day state visit of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the Southeast Asian country. "This is the first defence cooperation (agreement) between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam," Reyes said. Reyes explained that the MoU is not intended to develop a defence treaty between the two countries but "will serve as a framework in forging closer defense relations and cooperation between the defence and the armed forces establishments of the two countries".
Under the agreement, which was proposed by the Philippines defence department to the Brunei government as early as 1997, the two parties agreed to establish a joint working committee to oversee the implementation of the pact's provisions.
Arroyo left Manila yesterday morning for her five-day state visit to Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore to enhance bilateral economic and friendly relations between her country and the two member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). During her visit, Sultan Bolkiah also conferred to Arroyo the highest Brunei state decoration of Dato Laila Utama. The award is given to leaders in recognition of their distinctive efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
Philippines, Brunei sign defence pact
The Philippines and Brunei Darussalam have signed an agreement that will improve defence cooperation between the two countries, reports reaching Manila said yesterday.